Preparations are complete for the 21st edition of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), set for Thursday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The event, themed “Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports,” will recognize Kenya’s top sporting achievers across 11 categories, with a special focus on the outstanding performances by women athletes in 2024.
SOYA panel chairman Chris Mbaisi highlighted a busy year for Kenyan sports, marked by the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Junior Starlets’ historic qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Mbaisi noted that the judging panel worked tirelessly to select winners from a pool of remarkable nominees, reflecting the depth of talent in Kenyan sports.
Among the headline contenders for Sportswoman of the Year are double Paris Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, who broke world records in the 10,000m and 5km, and Faith Kipyegon, who set a new 1,500m world record and claimed her third consecutive Olympic title in the event.
Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, and Olympic steeplechase bronze medallist Faith Cherotich are also in the running.
The men’s category features Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Africa light middleweight boxing champion Boniface Mugunde, and Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi, among others. Paralympic long jump silver medallist Samson Ojuka and World Ability Youth Games double gold medallist Michelle Chepng’etich lead the nominees in the disability categories.
SOYA founder Paul Tergat reaffirmed his commitment to growing the event, introducing new initiatives such as athlete training in finance management and mental wellness.
Teleco giant Safaricom, a long-time sponsor, has pledged Sh1 million for this year’s ceremony, underscoring its ongoing support for Kenyan sports.
As anticipation builds, the 21st SOYA Awards promise to be a night of celebration, inspiration, and recognition for Kenya’s sporting heroes past, present, and future.
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